Killing Me Softly

Those extra six minutes allowed an intriguing story to unfold
between the pin-point accurate striker and inventive grappler –-
one that would likely have been stilted by the previously
abbreviated rounds. The bout also silenced any doubts that women
aren’t capable of performing in the same time frame allotted the
men (though to anyone that has seen the women ply their trade in
the last two years, it was never really a question.)

Baszler stole the first round away from Kaufman by taking the
Canadian’s feet out from under her and implementing a unique
knee-to-head choke.

But the 23-year-old boxer found her groove in the second frame,
baiting Baszler into her world with crisp combinations off a potent
low kick.

Baszler made a valiant effort in the third to balance the scales
with a takedown dive, but Kaufman played an intelligent defensive
hand and stepped out and away of every potential submission
scenario without hesitation.

Baszler certainly laid a blueprint for Kaufman’s future opposition
and showed marked improvement on her feet; her ground game is
already there. Kaufman is now 10-0, and clearly one of the most
proficient female strikers in the world at 135 pounds.

I watched the first all-female card in the U.S. in 2002, and I
noted that the softer side of the sport was at least five years
behind its male counterpart. I don’t think that anymore.

Watching tonight, I saw two distinct personalities and combative
styles emerge –- and, just like with the men, that’s what will keep
fans coming back.